I’m delighted to report that the Just Employment Policy Assessment (JEPA) has been published as part of my article in Journal of Education Human Resources, “Development and Application of the Just Employment Policy Assessment in American Higher Education Institutions.” I developed JEPA for use in my own research; the article explains the most recently updated version of the assessment and demonstrates its utility in various institutions (e.g., public/private, 2 year/4-year, enrollment, location, and region). The complete JEPA is included in the article and it can be used to evaluate either a comprehensive just employment policy or a collection of standalone institutional policies. JEPA is accessible to practitioners and researchers with citation/attribution (no financial cost). If you use it, I’d appreciate hearing about your use of JEPA and any feedback you can provide.
“Summer is Coming” (2023) Living Wage Study update
Although summer starts tomorrow (June 21), we are already a busy time for the Living Wage Policy Study. We are working to replicate my earlier study of living wage policies and practices in U.S. Jesuit institutions and explore the prevalence of living wage policies and practices in higher education more broadly in a period of higher inflation and the aftermath of the Covid pandemic.
I’m delighted that Daniel De Lude (’25) has joined the Living Wage Policy Study as a research associate. Working as an SJU Summer Scholar, Daniel is extending my earlier research on written living wage policies and unwritten living wage practices in U.S. Jesuit higher education institutions (Weidner, 2020). Daniel will be interviewing CHROs and researching institutional websites and using the Just Employment Policy Assessment I published earlier this year (Weidner, 2023). The survey of CHROs at Jesuit institutions in the U.S. will commence this week. Our hope is that all 27 U.S. Jesuit institutions will participate in the survey.
I am surveying institutions and interviewing CHROs from other segments of U.S. higher education beginning this summer and continuing into the fall.
As with all of our studies to date, participating institutions will:
- receive a prepublication summary of preliminary results; and
- not be identified in any subsequent publications.
Warmly, Ken
“Benchmarking Just Employment” at the In-person Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice
I’m presenting at the in-person 2021 Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice hosted by the Ignatian Solidarity Network this weekend. The IFTJ theme is “Imagining a Path Forward: Reflection. Reckoning. Kinship.” #IFTJ 2021 is being held at the Washington Hilton. See the IFTJ conference website for more information.
I’m presenting my session twice on Sunday, November 7 at 10:40-11:30 am and 1:10-2:00 pm. Click the link below to go to the In-person conference schedule, then scroll down to 10:00 am or 1:00 pm (both sessions are in Columbia 3).
I’ll be sharing results from my research into what makes or breaks a successful just employment or living wage policy. I’ll also discuss how my own institution developed its own Just Employment Policy based on the Model Just Employment Policy published by the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University.
IFTJ isn’t just an event, it’s an energy- and inspiration-filled experience. I’ll be on site at the conference all weekend, and look forward to meeting colleagues across the Ignatian family – and beyond – in Washington Saturday and Sunday (note: the In-person IFTJ this weekend is a different program than the Virtual program held last month).
#IFTJ
“Benchmarking Just Employment: The Justice is in the Details” at Ignatian Solidarity Network’s Virtual 2021 Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice (ITFJ)
I’m presenting live at the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s 2021 Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice, which this year is being held both virtually (in October) and in-person (in November). This year’s conference theme is “Imagining a Path Forward: Reflection. Reckoning. Kinship.”
My virtual breakout session is on Saturday October 16 (4:25-5:15 pm EDT):
Benchmarking Just Employment: The Justice is in the Details
Click the title above for a full description of all Virtual ITFJ sessions; then scroll down to the 4:25 breakout sessions. IFTJ participants will have access to all of the talks and materials through June 1, 2022.
If you are planning on attending Virtual ITFJ 2021 and would like to connect, before, or after the teach-in, please drop me a note.
I hope to see you (virtually) at #IFTJ!
“20 Paths to a Living Wage Policy: Is Fair Employment in Your Institution’s Future?” at AASHE’s 2021 Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education (GCSHE)
I’m presenting live at AASHE’s 2021 virtual Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education (GCSHE). AASHE is the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, (aashe.org). This year’s conference theme is “The future is…”.
My presentation is on Wednesday, October 13 (11-11:45 am EDT):
20 Paths to a Living Wage Policy: Is Fair Employment in Your Institution’s Future?
Click the title above for a full description of all sessions or to access a downloadable schedule. Select October 13 to find my session. The video of the session will be available to conference participants through December 31.
If you are planning on attending AASHE 2021 and would like to connect, before, or after the conference, please drop me a note.
I hope to see you (virtually) at #GCSHE!